Changing the landscape of financial security for financially vulnerable people requires a deep understanding of the elements of the financial system–the products, services, experiences, distribution channels, and policies–that support perceptions about being able to achieve financial security. Commonwealth conducted research and interviews with low and moderate income individuals to identify non-financial factors affecting individuals’ perceptions about being able to attain their own financial security, and found that these factors contribute to what we are calling a “financial security mindset”.